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It was with some excitement that I stumbled across a five song EP from Houston born singer/songwriter Julie Forester called DANCE WITH ME. Julie has appeared on stages all over the world including London’s Piccadilly theatre and has toured all over Europe and the UK playing the late great Eva Cassidy in a stage production about her life. Compared to acclaimed artists like Jewel and Trisha Yearwood, Julie has a lot to live up to and some big footsteps to follow in and she does so effortlessly. Oozing with talent Julie is a big star in the making. Julie is everything you could want in a singer and more. This EP will give listeners a glimpse into the type of music Julie can perform as well as allowing them to see just how fantastic she is vocally. “Feelin the Fall” is a wonderfully polished opening song that proves that Julie can sing. Her voice is powerful and strong, full of emotion and passion. As soon as you hear this opening number you know that you are listening to someone with bags of talent, someone who is just a little bit special. “Forget” is a slower number bursting with emotion. This is a strong number that really showcases Julie’s vocals. Modern country fans will enjoy this lovely song. “They Danced” is another slow number that sees Julie’s voice take on a soft, delicate quality. Julie gives a passionate performance on this number. A truly brilliant ballad that Julie puts her heart and soul into singing. An outstanding song and performance that would give any currently established artist a run for their money. “Petty Jealous and Small” sees the mood change completely. This is a much heavier song that has echoes of Miranda Lambert’s style. Julie shows on this EP that she can sing slow ballads that really get under the listeners skin as well as fast lively songs that really pack a punch. Julie is anything but one dimensional. “Alive” is the final offering on this EP and is another slow number. This is another highly polished song that floats nicely along and brings the EP to a fitting close. This EP does well to wet the appetite of listeners and leaves them silently and eagerly begging for more.
-Review from UK MAVERICK magazine freelance writer Sara Hunt
- MAVERICK MAGAZINE
Discography
I have had singles played on various Internet and Digital Radio stations...but my only released EP was released June '08 entitled "Dance With Me" and it is available on CD Baby, Itunes etc.,
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Bio
Julie was born in Houston, Texas, but has lived all over the world. She really can claim the artist stereo type as having a gypsy soul having moved over 19 times!!! Her journey as an artist started small singing in church choirs and friend’s weddings. Eventually it blossomed into performances at the Picadilly Theatre in London, England and concert halls all over New York, Holland, Ireland and Scotland; only to land in Nashville, Tennessee frequenting the local songwriter bars and the world famous Bluebird Café on occasion.
You could say she has either had artist career A.D.D. or just has a very eclectic appetite for all things challenging...I prefer the latter. “ Lately I think that if I would have just stuck to musical theatre or acting I might really have ‘made it’ by now, but alas not the way it turned out. I think now I just chalk all my different types of performing and music experiences up to what makes me, me.” It all started when my loveable mom put me on the stage at vacation bible school in San Antonio, TX when I was five. Being the musician that my mom is, she was amazed that I could sing in tune at such a young age. She then made it her mission for my brother, sister and I all to learn a musical instrument…I basically can't ever remember not performing, preparing or playing in something. I did everything… business luncheons, theatre, church mission trips, all state choirs, vocal competitions...everything really that I had an opportunity to do…there I was.
My voice got me into one of the top colleges in the nation at the time. I had no business being there based on my SAT scores, and to the conservatory's disgust I really LOVED country and musical theatre music; which didn't fit in too well with Schubert, Mozart and Puccini. So I finished up my BA in Communications instead of Music. After a twisted romantic encounter in beautiful Seattle, WA, I got into grad school in New York City, an experience that completely shaped, changed and affected everything about me. My time in NYC opened my eyes to a whole new perspective on life, people, cultures and it was the first time I figured out who I was. Because of my experiences in New York and the MA I received, I was able to achieve what I thought to be my ticket into the musical career I had always wanted...being in a professional West End (Broadway) show in London, England. Ragtime was such a fabulous experience for me, but it showed me how much hard work goes into what I do. Doing eight shows a week is no picnic, and I had never worked that hard in my whole life. It wasn't till I starred in an UK/European tour as “Eva Cassidy” in a story about her life called, Over the Rainbow that I actually fell in love with performing and being out on the road.
All my time overseas and experiences in LA and New York have only started to prepare for me for my journey as an artist here in Music City. One of my college professors always said to me that, “… life is a process…” I don’t think I ever fully grasped the truth of his statement till I realized my true calling was the arts…in all it’s struggles and constant indecision. Writing music is still a relatively new to me, having only started writing my own in 2003. Being back in Nashville living, writing, creating and performing, while juggling a day job is something I do not plan to ever leave again...well at least not for good. I have taken breaks here and there to try and do something else with my life…things that might have brought me a bit more financial and emotional security, (would be nice) but nothing else ever stuck. I believe in the end that my endeavors and choices make me a better writer, singer, performer and overall person. Pursuing this life in music is my choice, even though I think it is the only true option I ever had.
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